Colorado author Diane Dike, Ph.D., will headline the Colorado Pet Expo at the Denver Merchandise Mart April 18-20th.  While at the expo, Dike will be signing copies of her series-based book Gracie Comes Home and highlighting her courageous story that will break and warm the hearts of readers while inspiring them to overcome even the most daunting of challenges.  Her “partner in paws” (and the star of the book) Gracie will also be on hand during the event. 

Gracie is a 7lb Italian Greyhound Service Dog (a one-of-a-kind for her breed) that not only warms the heart of everyone she comes in contact with, but also (literally) warms her human companion Diane, who suffers from Cryoglobulinemia.  The rare, blood clotting bone disease causes Diane to suffer from a wide-range of symptoms such as joint swelling, muscle aches, sores on her body and depression just to name a few.  Gracie serves not only as a canine body warmer when Dike needs her body temperature raised, but also serves to assist Dike with other tasks as a typical service dog would.  The team will be available to sign autographs and Diane will offer heart-warming stories around the day-to-day battle and survival of this one time athlete who hasn’t let this disability slow her down, physically, emotionally or spiritually.

Diane will also be previewing her soon-to-be-released (July 2008) autobiography God Made Only One of Me, which details her rise and fall, and her unmistakable will to fight on, despite her physical adversities.  “I was diagnosed with a rare, incurable, life-threatening blood disease and became homeless. I lost everything that meant anything to me. But I’ve come through the storm, back from the land of the dead to the land of the living. I am so thankful for my life that I travel the country sharing my adversities and how I daily overcome with a smile, a service dog and a second chance,” states Dike.  “Being at the Colorado Pet Expo is a special treat for me, since I live right here in Colorado.  Gracie and I won’t have to travel far to talk about our message of hope and survival.”

Dike and her husband Paul are the co-founders of Second Chance with Saving Grace, a non-profit organization designed to offer up Diane’s message of hope to all who will listen, but more importantly, schools, hospitals and churches across Colorado and the nation.  All proceeds from the sale of the books God Made Only One of Me and all monies raised are returned to the organization to continue the mission of the program.  The booth at the Denver Pet Expo is sponsored by PawsUpPetSupply.com – a Denver, CO based retailer of pet supplies who has sponsored many of Second Chance’s efforts in 2008.